Fernandez takes the win, this time it’s Augusto

Moto2 – Shark Grand Prix de France. Le Mans

Qualification:

At last! Pedro Acosta was once again able to show everyone just how good he is by taking his first pole in Moto2. The current Moto3 world champion has struggled to find his previous class form, perhaps now he is more settled and will continue his progress. P2 went to Jake Dixon, always quick, but recent DNF’s are a problem. P3 went to Augusto Fernandez, Pedro’s team mate.

The Race:

From lights out Pedro Acosta continued his brilliant form of the weekend and led the race in to the first corner, with team mate Augusto Fernandez in P2 and Albert Arenas P3. Jake Dixon, the other front row starter was swamped at the start and ended up seventh in the first two laps. Also on lap two Fermin Aldeguer and Tony Arbolino had a synchronised crash, not touching each other but down on the same corner in the same type of low side crash. Twenty-one laps to go and Jake Dixon also crashed out in an own fault incident… again.

Fifteen laps to go, Pedro Acosta was leading the race, as he had done from the start and for ten laps, then suddenly he crashed, the Kalex sliding out from under him and in to the kitty litter. This was a huge disappointment as up to that point he had looked settled and on for the win. This left his team mate Augusto Fernandez leading the race with Aron Canet in P2 and Cameron Beaubier P3, with Somkiat Chantra P4.

Acosta and Fernandez had been holding off the rest of the field with quite a gap, and now Augusto had a solid lead with 6.6 seconds over P2 man Canet. As is often the case with a race like this, it can get a little boring, as the riders get strung out and the gaps get bigger. Often it is down to who you support in a sense as to how much interest you maintain in the race, and it was good to see Augusto Fernandez showing just how smooth and dialled a rider he is.

As the race came to a close it was Augusto Fernandez who took the win, his first since 2019, with Aron Canet showing ironman bravado in P2 still in pain from the pins in his arm, and a solid P3 for Somkiat Chantra, starting from P13.

The Results:

P1, Augusto Fernandez, Red Bull Ajo, Kalex. P2, Aron Canet, Flexbox HP40, Kalex. P3, Somkiat Chantra, Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, Kalex.

A year ago, Raul Fernandez won the race at Le Mans, at that time Augusto Fernandez, his namesake was in his shadow as Raul fought Remy for the championship. This year Augusto is in Raul’s previous team, having moved from Marc VDS, and now it was his time to shine, and that is good to see, that he is one of the nice guys in the paddock. Only one thing, Pedro will be back!